ZIP 21204 (Towson, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 21204: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Baltimore County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Baltimore County compares with Maryland
Baltimore County against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Baltimore County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Baltimore County | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.6 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.53 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.3% | 2.4% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 24.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 13.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.3% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Baltimore County sits below Maryland on deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It runs above Maryland on crashes per 100k residents / yr.
ZIP 21204 at a glance: I-95 9 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 21204.
Overview
Police reported 5,591 crashes involving commercial trucks in Baltimore County since 2015: 2,751 people were injured and 93 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in May (7.6%).
November through March accounts for 41.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.4% in Maryland.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 6.9% of truck crashes.
2.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.4% across Maryland.
Where crashes happen
I-95 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 21204 with 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-40 (7), I-695 (4) and I-83 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 144 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in July (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.9, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 21204 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-95 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at July schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Baltimore County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 9 |
| US-40 | 7 |
| I-695 | 4 |
| I-83 | 4 |
| SR-26 | 3 |
| I-70 | 2 |
| Mu-1370 | 2 |
| SR-7 | 2 |
| US-1 | 2 |
| CR-2254 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Baltimore County) |
|---|---|
| Balto Beltway | 1,036 |
| J F K Memorial Hwy | 437 |
| No Name | 296 |
| Harrisburg Expwy | 284 |
| Balto Beltway (Inner Loop) | 277 |
| Pulaski Hwy | 130 |
| Acrs Marked Off Road | 78 |
| North Point Blvd | 70 |
ZIP 21204 at a glance
| Population | 19,845 |
| Density | 1,224 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $99,606 |
| Median home value | $584,002 |
| Home ownership | 46% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Baltimore County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 232 | — | 5.8 |
| 2000s | 294 | +27% | 6.6 |
| 2010s | 364 | +24% | 6.2 |
| 2020s | 523 | +44% | 6.4 |
In the 1990s about 232 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 523. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 7.8 a year in 2016–19, 6.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 21204
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 21204?
5,591 truck crashes have been reported in Baltimore County since 2015, with 93 deaths and 2,751 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 21204?
Since 2015, I-95 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21204: 9.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 21204?
The worst month is October: 9.7% of truck crashes in Baltimore County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 21204?
Garbage trucks were involved in 144 reported crashes in Baltimore County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 21204 compare with Maryland?
Per 100,000 residents, Baltimore County has 56.6 truck crashes a year; Maryland has 49.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 21204?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.